Black Hawk Sensitive Skin Dog Food Review: Gut & Skin Support in One Bowl

Dogs with itchy skin and upset tummies are becoming one of the most common cases we see in-store. Soft stools, on-and-off diarrhoea, paw licking, flaky dandruff and a dull coat often come together as one frustrating package for both dogs and their people.

As an independent Melbourne pet store, we meet a lot of owners who have already tried “better kibble”, fish oil and medicated shampoos with limited success. That’s exactly the group Black Hawk targets with Healthy Benefits Sensitive Skin & Gut Dry Dog Food – a grain-free dry food for adult dogs that promises to support nutrient absorption, bowel function, and skin and coat health all at once.

In this in-depth review we’ll look at how this formula is built, what real-world results you can expect, and how it compares with another well-known sensitive-skin option, Royal Canin Medium Dermacomfort.

1. Product Snapshot — Who Is This Food For?

Black Hawk Healthy Benefits Sensitive Skin & Gut is a complete and balanced dry food for adult dogs. It is formulated by veterinarians and animal nutritionists for dogs who:

• Have sensitive digestion (soft stool, frequent diarrhoea, lots of gas)
• Show recurrent skin or coat issues (itching, redness, paw licking, dull coat)
• Tend to scavenge or eat indiscriminately, stressing their gut
• Live in harsher environments (dry climate, seasonal allergens) and have higher skin needs

It is grain-free, uses chicken as the main animal protein, and leans heavily on digestive support ingredients like prebiotics, probiotics and algae beta-glucans.

The idea is simple: if you stabilise the gut, you make it much easier to stabilise the skin.

If you are in Melbourne or nearby suburbs, you can buy Black Hawk Sensitive Skin & Gut directly from us with fast local delivery or convenient Click & Collect from our Moorabbin warehouse: Shop Black Hawk Sensitive Skin & Gut at ADS Pet Store.

2. Why a Healthy Gut Means Better Skin

There’s a growing body of research around the “gut–skin axis” – the two-way conversation between the digestive tract and the skin.

• The gut is one of the body’s largest immune organs.
• When the gut lining is healthy and the microbiome is balanced, the immune system tends to respond in a calmer, more controlled way.
• When the gut is inflamed or the microbiome is disrupted, the immune system can become over-reactive, and that often shows up on the skin as redness, itching, rashes or poor coat quality.

For sensitive dogs, you can pour fish oil over the food all day, but if:

• the gut wall is “leaky”,
• the microbiome is out of balance, or
• digestion is too fast or too slow,

then skin symptoms often keep bouncing back.

That’s why Black Hawk didn’t just build a “high-omega coat formula”. Instead, they created a diet that:

1. Makes digestion gentler and more efficient,
2. Feeds and protects the gut lining,
3. While also delivering skin-focused fats and micronutrients.

In other words: healthier gut → calmer immune system → better skin.

For full ingredient details and official product information, visit the Black Hawk official page: Black Hawk Sensitive Skin & Gut — official product page.

3. Functional Highlights — Key Technologies in the Recipe

3.1 Hydrolysed Chicken for Easier Digestion

In addition to regular chicken meal and fresh chicken, this food contains hydrolysed chicken – chicken protein that has been broken down into smaller pieces (peptides).

• Smaller peptides are easier for the body to digest and absorb.
• They are also less likely to trigger reactions in dogs that are sensitive to larger, intact proteins.

This doesn’t turn the formula into a full veterinary hypoallergenic diet, but it does make it a gentler option for dogs who suffer from loose stools and vague food reactions without needing a prescription food.

3.2 Prebiotics & Probiotics for the Microbiome

Black Hawk adds both prebiotics and probiotics:

• Prebiotics are special fibres that the good bacteria in the gut ferment into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). SCFAs are the main fuel for cells in the large intestine and are crucial for maintaining a tight, healthy gut barrier.
• Probiotics (Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis) are live beneficial bacteria that support the microbial community, help keep “bad” bacteria under control, and may reduce gas and stool odour.

For a dog that often has soft stools, noisy tummy and gassy smells, this combo is very relevant. It aims to:

• Slow down transit time
• Improve stool formation
• Reduce the risk of overgrowth of undesirable bacteria

3.3 Algae β-Glucans — A Rare but Interesting Ingredient

One of the more unusual ingredients in this recipe is algae beta-glucans.

Beta-glucans are sugar molecules that can modulate the immune system and support the gut barrier. In this formula they:

• Help maintain healthy faecal scores
• Promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria
• Support the gut’s first line of defence against pathogens

You don’t see algae beta-glucans in many mainstream dog foods, so this is a genuine point of difference for Black Hawk.

3.4 Omega-3 & Good Fats for Skin, Coat & Joints

The food contains fish oil and emu oil, supplying omega-3 fatty acids such as EPA and DHA.

• Support skin barrier repair
• Help reduce the production of pro-inflammatory mediators
• Promote a shiny, soft coat
• Provide additional joint support, especially useful for adult and senior dogs

At 17% fat, the level is moderate-to-higher, helping with coat quality, but still reasonable for everyday adult dogs with normal activity.

3.5 Grain-Free Carbohydrate & Fibre Blend

Instead of wheat, rice or barley, the carbohydrate and fibre side of the recipe uses:

• Field peas
• Chickpeas
• Faba beans
• Sweet potato
• Beet pulp
• Carrot fibre

This makes the formula:

• Suitable for owners who prefer grain-free diets
• Rich in fermentable fibres that can feed beneficial gut bacteria

A small minority of dogs can be sensitive to higher pulses/legumes in dry food, but many sensitive-skin dogs do very well on this kind of blend, especially when the fibre and microbiome support is well designed.

4. Ingredient Deep Dive — What’s Actually in the Bag?

Let’s group the ingredient list into categories and look at what they contribute.

4.1 Animal Protein & Fats

• Chicken meal & fresh chicken – main sources of animal protein, supporting muscle maintenance and tissue repair.
• Hydrolysed chicken – pre-digested protein to ease the load on the gut and lower reactivity risk.
• Fish oil & emu oil – omega-3 rich fats for skin, coat and joints.
• DL-methionine & L-tryptophan – added amino acids to fine-tune the profile for skin, coat and mood/behaviour.

4.2 Plant Proteins & Carbohydrates

• Field peas, chickpeas, faba beans – plant proteins and complex carbohydrates; contribute energy, amino acids and fermentable fibres.
• Sweet potato & pea starch – digestible energy sources with a lower glycaemic impact compared with many cereals.

4.3 Fibre & Gut Support

• Beet pulp & carrot fibre – classic “goldilocks” fibres that help form well-structured stools and support gut flora.
• Dried yeast extracts – source of mannan-oligosaccharides and other functional compounds supporting gut health and immunity.
• Probiotics – live beneficial bacteria to help maintain a healthy microbiome.
• Algae β-glucan – a functional gut and immune support ingredient.
• Yucca schidigera extract – used to help reduce stool and urine odour.

4.4 Skin, Coat & Immune Support

• Fish oil, emu oil, coconut oil – combined fat sources for coat shine and skin barrier support.
• Sea kelp – source of trace minerals and iodine.
• Blueberries, carrots, cranberries, tomato, dandelion, rosemary, peppermint – provide natural antioxidants and phytonutrients to help counter oxidative stress and support overall health.

4.5 Vitamins, Minerals & Micronutrients

The recipe is fortified with a full set of essential vitamins and minerals, many of them in chelated forms like zinc proteinate and selenium yeast to enhance bioavailability. It meets AAFCO nutrient profiles for maintenance, so it can be used as a long-term daily diet for adult dogs.

Overall ingredient impression:

• Thoughtfully built for gut and skin synergy
• Good use of functional fibres, probiotics and omega-3
• Heavy reliance on legumes may not suit every single dog but will suit many when digestion is otherwise stable

5. Nutrition Profile & Which Dogs It Suits

Key numbers:

• Crude protein: 28% (min)
• Crude fat: 17% (min)
• Crude fibre: 6% (max)
• Moisture: 10% (max)
• Calcium: 0.9% (min)
• Phosphorus: 0.7% (min)
• Energy: 3,700 kcal ME/kg (calculated)

5.1 Dogs That Are a Good Match

• Adult dogs with sensitive digestion and skin
• Dogs that often have soft or inconsistent stools
• Dogs that scavenge or eat random things and need more robust gut support
• Owners who prefer a grain-free but still scientifically designed diet
• Dogs that need a little extra skin, coat and joint support from omega-3

5.2 Dogs That May Need Something Else

• Dogs on strict low-fat diets (e.g. pancreatitis history) – 17% fat may be too high.
• Dogs with severe, vet-diagnosed food allergies – they may need a true veterinary elimination diet or hydrolysed prescription food.
• Dogs that have had poor experiences with higher-legume dry foods – though many dogs are fine, some do better on cereals.

6. Real-World Observations from an Independent Pet Store

From day-to-day conversations with dog owners who choose this formula, we most often hear:

• Stool quality tends to improve within 2–5 days when the transition is done correctly.
• Gas and tummy noises often reduce over the first 1–2 weeks.
• Scratching, paw licking and coat quality usually take longer – more like 3–8 weeks of consistent feeding.

Breeds we frequently see on this food include French Bulldogs, Staffies, Retrievers, Collies and mixed-breed medium to large dogs that have both skin and gut complaints.

There are, of course, a few dogs who don’t respond as hoped. In those cases we generally:

• Check that the dog isn’t getting large amounts of other treats or table scraps.
• Consider a veterinary work-up (skin scraping, stool tests, allergy work-up).
• Trial a different style of diet (e.g. veterinary hydrolysed food or a different protein).

Overall though, the performance of Black Hawk Sensitive Skin & Gut is solid for a non-prescription food.

For more real-life owner feedback, you can also check independent reviews on ProductReview.com.au.

7. Feeding Guide Explained

Black Hawk’s feeding guide is divided into less active and active dogs. As a rough idea:

One metric cup (250 ml) is approximately 125 g.

These numbers are only a starting point. For best results:

• Monitor your dog’s body condition score (BCS) – aim for ribs that are easy to feel but not visible, and a defined waist.
• If your dog is gaining weight, trim the amount back by 10% and re-check after 2–3 weeks.
• If your dog is losing weight or seems very hungry, increase by 10% and reassess.

Always provide fresh drinking water and avoid feeding too many rich treats on top, especially during the first few weeks.

8. Transition & Practical Tips for Sensitive Dogs

For sensitive dogs, how you switch foods matters almost as much as which food you choose.

A typical 7–10 day transition might look like:

• Days 1–3: 25% new food, 75% old food
• Days 4–6: 50% new, 50% old
• Days 7–10: 75% new, 25% old
• Day 11 onwards: 100% new food

Extra tips for dogs with fragile guts:

• Split the daily amount into two to three smaller meals to reduce gut workload.
• Avoid introducing lots of new treats at the same time.
• Expect that a little softening of stools can be normal during transition, as the microbiome adapts.
• If there is severe diarrhoea, blood in the stool, repeated vomiting, or obvious discomfort, stop the transition and contact your vet promptly.

Remember that skin issues often lag behind digestive improvements. Give the diet at least 6–8 weeks before deciding whether it has helped the skin and coat.

9. Comparison with Royal Canin Medium Dermacomfort

Royal Canin’s Medium Dermacomfort is another popular option for dogs with skin issues. Let’s see how it compares to Black Hawk Sensitive Skin & Gut.

9.1 At-a-Glance Comparison Table

9.2 Which Dogs Suit Which Formula?

Very broadly:

• If your dog’s main problem is itchy skin, dandruff or a dull coat, and their stools are otherwise quite normal, Royal Canin Medium Dermacomfort may be a simple, effective choice – especially for medium-size dogs where the feeding guides are tailored.
• If your dog has both skin problems and obvious gut issues (soft stools, frequent diarrhoea, gassy tummy, sensitive digestion), Black Hawk Sensitive Skin & Gut is more directly targeted at that gut–skin combination.

Neither food replaces a true veterinary prescription diet in complex medical cases. For dogs with severe allergies, chronic diarrhoea or suspected IBD, it’s essential to work closely with your vet.

10. Pros & Cons of Black Hawk Sensitive Skin & Gut

10.1 Pros

• Designed specifically for both sensitive gut and sensitive skin
• Includes hydrolysed chicken, prebiotics, probiotics and algae beta-glucans
• Grain-free for owners or dogs who prefer to avoid cereals
• Provides omega-3 rich oils for coat and joint health
• Complete & balanced to AAFCO standards for long-term adult feeding

10.2 Cons

• At 17% fat, it isn’t suitable for dogs needing strict low-fat diets
• Legume-based carbohydrate profile may not suit every single dog
• Not a substitute for prescription hypoallergenic or gastrointestinal diets in complex cases

11. FAQs About Black Hawk Sensitive Skin & Gut

12. Final Verdict — Is It Worth Trying?

If you have an adult dog who:

• Has on-and-off loose stools or diarrhoea,
• Produces soft, messy stools or lots of smelly gas,
• And at the same time struggles with itchy skin, redness or a dull coat,

then Black Hawk Healthy Benefits Sensitive Skin & Gut Dry Dog Food is a very sensible diet to consider.

Its strength is not just in adding more oils for shine, but in trying to correct the underlying gut environment with targeted fibres, probiotics and beta-glucans. When the transition is done slowly and consistently, many dogs show:

• Better stool quality
• Calmer digestion
• Gradual improvement in skin comfort and coat sheen

As always, monitor your dog closely over the first 6–8 weeks, keep your vet in the loop if symptoms are severe or persistent, and don’t hesitate to seek professional advice if things don’t improve.

For many sensitive adult dogs, though, this formula offers a thoughtful, well-designed way to support gut and skin health in one bowl. If you’re in Melbourne and would like real-world advice plus convenient delivery, you’re welcome to shop with us at ADS Pet Store: order Black Hawk Sensitive Skin & Gut online with fast local delivery or Click & Collect from Moorabbin.